Airplane wing



July 29, 1930. J AULD 1,771,567

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Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF1c JAMES FREDERICK AULD,OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE D. L. .AULDCOM- IPANY, OF COLUMBUS,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO AIRPLANE WING Application filed November 24,1928. Serial No. 321,595.

This invention relates to improvements in airplane wings.

It more particularly relates to improvements in the covering forairplane wings, especially the nose thereof, and has for its object theproduction of a composite covering composed of a layer or veneer of woodand a layer or sheathing of metal, preferably aluminum, united by asuitable adhes ve binder.

This covering has the following, among other distinctivecharacteristics: It is light,

flexible to a degree, durable'and strong, and of so smooth an exterioras to offer the least frictional resistance when the planes are goingthrough the air at the high speeds they attain. This covering will yieldto blows or impacts of considerable force and spring back or recover itsoriginal shape when relieved of contact with the opposing object. Itwill not'warp or lose itsv shape due to the effects of weather. It keepsits shape and does not tend to straighten outor pull away from theframe. It is much stronger than plywoods and more durable than canvas.It is easily workable large and small radii. It can be formed intoplane-shapes without extensive steam-' ing and can be readily glued, ornailed without drilling or countersinking, to the framing of the wing.

As'just stated, this composite structure, due to the bendability of thewood veneer and ofrthe metallic or alloy sheathing, can be formed orbent to conform to the desired shape of the wing surface, even the noseor frontal portion of the wing; and when so bent this structure willretain its shape without tendency to spring back.

These qualities are due to the structure and materials of thiscovering,-the structure consisting of aninner lining and an'outersheathing, and the materials consisting of a wood veneer on theinner orunder side and a sheathing of'aluminum or equivalent metal or alloy onthe outer side, the sheathing affording smoothness and strength, and theveneer and sheathing together affording yieldability to blows by givinginwardly to blows, and having capacity to spring back 7 and easilyformed around to normal position, the veneer of wood contributingprincipally to this latter quality.

The structure further includes, by preference in this respect, a binderbetween the veneer and the sheathing consisting of celluloid in sheetform partially dissolved on its surfaces by any suitable solvent; thepartial dissolution forming gummy or adhesive surfaces and theundissolved remainder constituting'a bendable element integral with thebinder element proper.

l/Vhile I have illustrated and set forth herein my improved covering asapplied to airplane wings, it is to be understood that this covering isapplicable also to the horiwing, similar to that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an edge View of the cover material, showing the layersofwood and metal,

and the intervening binding material.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the nose point.

Figure 5 is a view showing a modified form of covering in which thereare two layers of wood with an intervening layer of metal.

In Figure 1 there is shown an airplane Wing in perspective. The wing iscomposed essentially of the framework and the cover.

The rear part of the Wing in the present instance is indicated by thenumeral 1, while the nose part is indicated by the numeral 2. The rearpart of the wing has an upper rib member 3 and a lower rib member 4.These members are held in spaced relationship and are braced by means ofa brace 5.

The point where the rear of the wing and the nose part come together issupported and held apart by trusses 6. These trusses are uprightsubstantially in relation to the main body of the wing. The nose part ofthe wing has a forwardly extending upper front rib It has also aforwardly extending lower zontal and vertical controls and to aileronsings by the numeral 11. The wood part of the covering material isindicated by the numeral 12, while the metal layer is indicated by thenumeral 13, and the intervening binder by the numeral 14:-

It will be observed that the covering here described and used iscomposed of a plurality of layers, one of which is of wood, another ofmetal or alloy, and the third of celluloid.

These layers are superimposed upon each other Without treatment of anykind. Heat and pressure are then applied to a sufficient extent topartially dissolve the celluloid, preferably in sheet form, toconstitute the binder. It is found that usually 140 to 150 degreescentigrade temperature, and a pressure of 500 pounds per square inch areabout right for the effective binding of thematerials. The heat andpressure are usually maintained for a period of thirty minutes to sixtyminutes. If the celluloid sheet be partially dissolved before it is madepart of the composite stock, less heat and pressure may be used in theformation of the composite stock.

These values, of course, will depend upon the operating condition andupon the nature of the surfaces to be'joined and the'thicknesses of thebodiesto be united. In general,

however, the above mentioned temperatures and pressures are about rightfor developing the most satisfactory degree of adhesiveness on thecelluloid sheet surfaces .for the purposes for which this invention isspecifically applied.

The layer of wood is usually thicker than the layer of metal, but therelative thickness of the two may be adapted to the conditions andpurposes under which and for which covering is to bev used. As shown inthe drawings the layers are relatively thin and united by celluloid, butif the circumstances demand, each layer may be composed of heavier andthicker material, properly held together by a binder.

While this cover of metal-wood material is particularly adapted for useon the nose of the wing, it is well adapted for covering the whole ofthawing. and in this use it readily regains its shape after blows andknocks.

The composite stock thus formed of a layer of wood and a layer of metalis well adapted to form the cover for the frame of an airplane wing,because of the fact that it can stand hard knocks, and if it becomesdented will regain its normal shape or can be easily pressed back inshape.

While the layers of wood and metal are here described as being heldtogether by partially dissolved celluloid, any other suitable binder canbe used, the particular character of binder being variable, though thecelluloid sheets partially dissolved are far preferable as they afford amost effective and lasting binder, and as the undissolved portionconstitutes a bendable element integral with the binder element proper.

For the purpose of giving a. different finish or of increasing itsstrength and durability, the cover may be made of outer layers of woodand an intervening la er of metal, preferably aluminum, united y theusual binder. This form of cover is shown in Figure 5, and has the samegeneral qualities as are found in the two-ply cover.

The essential feature of this invention lies in the cover for the frameof an airplane wing composed of a composite stock that will retain andregain its normal shape thou h it has been subjected to hard knocks andb ows.

I' desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may beclearly embraced within my claims and the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an airplane wing, a frame, and a cover therefor, said cover beingcomposed of a layer of wood, a layer of metal, and an intervening layerof celluloid as a binder.

2. In an airplane wing, a frame, and a cover therefor, said cover beingcomposed of a layer of wood, a layer of aluminum and an interveninglayer of celluloid as a binder.

3. In an airplane wing, a nose part, a frame for'said nose, and a coverfor said frame, said cover being composed of a layer of wood, a layer ofmetal and an intervening layer of celluloid.

4:. In an airplane wing, a nose part, a frame for said nose, and a coverfor said frame, said cover being composed of wood and a layer ofaluminum and an intervening layer of celluloid as a binder.

5. In a flying machine, a composite surface covering, comprising aninner layer or veneer of wood. an outer sheathing of alumimum. and anadhesive between the veneer and the sheathing consisting of celluloid insheet form having its surfaces partially dissolved, whereby outersmoothness and strength of low frictional resistance and inner supportand reacting yieldability, all with lightness, are afforded.

6. An airplane wing nose consisting of a

